Mail-pouch-delivering apparatus.



0. A. WILLIS. MAIL POUCH DELIVERING APPARATUS.

PATENTED MAR. 17, 1908.

APPLICATION I'QILED AUG.15, 1907. 2 S EET 1- No. 882,223. PATENTED MAR. 17, 1908.

G. A. WILLIS.

MAILPOUOH DELIVERING APPARATUS APPLGTINFL 11.1 19.

IA 0 I EDA G 07 ZSHBETS-BHEET 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES A. WILLIS, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-FOURTH TO CHARLES E. CREAGER, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, AND ONE-FOURTH TO ABRAM B. APPLER, O1 ALBANY, NEW YORK.

MAIL-POUCH-DELIVERING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 17, 1908.

Application filed August 15, 1907. Serial No. 388,603.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES A. WILLIS, a citizen of the United States of America, re siding at WVashington, in the District of Columbla, have invented certain new and use ful Improvements in Mail-Pouch-Delivering Apparatus, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to mail pouch delivering apparatus and the object thereof is to provide an apparatus of such class in a manner as hereinafter set forth for automatically delivering mail matter contained in pouches, sacks and packages from postal cars while in motion and to deliver such pouch, sack or package at the proper moment and with suflicient force to insure its safe deposit in a receptacle or other receiving means at a distance from the railway track to prevent the pouch, sack or package from being thrown under the wheels by the suction of the passing car or to prevent such pouch, sack or packa e from being damaged.

Although the invention is primarily used for automatically delivering mail from postal cars, yet it is to be understood that the invention is adapted for use for any purpose wherein it is found applicable.

Further objects of the invention is to provide an ap aratus of the class referred to which shall be simple in its construction, automatic and accurate in its operation, strong, durable, efficient in its use, readily set up in operative position and comparatively inexpensive in manufacture.

With the foregoing and other objects in view the invention consists in the novel con struction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more specifically described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein is shown the preferred embodiment of the invention, but it is to be understood that changes, variations and modifications can be resorted to which come within the scope of the claims hereunto appended.

In describing the invention in detail referonce is had to the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference characters denote cor respondin parts throughout the several views in w ich Fi ure 1 is a perspective view of a postal car s owing the adaptation therewith of a mail delivering apparatus in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view of the car with the apparatus in side elevation, and also showing in full lines the normal position of the pouch support and throwing lever and in dotted lines the position the lever and support assume when the apparatus is actuated to deliver the mail. Fig. 3 is a detail View illustrating the actuatin means for the throwing lever, Fig. i is a side elevation of a postal car showing the adaptation therewith of a modified form of a mail delivering apparatus in accordance with this invention, and Fi 5 is a perspective view of a portion of t he apparatus as shown in Fig. 4.

Referring to the drawings, 1 denotes a postal car having its bottom 2 formed with a transversely-extending rectangular slit 3 in close proximity to the car door opening 4. Extending through the slot 3 is a vertically movable link 5 which projects above and below the bottom 2 of the car and at its upper end is pivotally-connected as at 6 to one end of a throwing lever referred to generally by the reference character 7.

In close proximity to the rear end of the slot 3 is positioned a bracket 8 to which is pivotally connected as at 9 a throwing lever 7. The bracket 8 supports as well as suspends the throwing lever 7 above the bottom of the car and the position of the pivot 9 of the lever 7 is such as to constitute said lever with an upper elongated arm 10 and a lower shorter arm 11. The link 5 is pivotally connected to the free end of the short arm 11 while the free end of the elongated arm 10 is forked, one of the tines 12 thereof being longer than the tine 13 and each is provided with an enlarged terminus 13. The elongated arm 10 of the lever 7 is curvilinear in contour and to the enlarged terminus 13 of each of the tines is fixed a pouch support, the latter extending at an inclination, the inclination being downwardly towards the pivot 9 of the lever 7. By way of example, the pouch support 14.- is shown of skeleton formation, substantially semi-cylindrical in contour and has its forward end formed with a stop 15 to prevent the pouch from sliding out of the support when mounted therein.

The pouch support, however, can be of any preferred structure. It is positioned, however, transversely of the car body and pref erably at an inclination so that when the throwing lever 7 is actuated, the pouch will assume the position shown in Fig. 2.

Depending from the bottom of the car 1 is a pair of hangers 16, 17, in which is j ournaled a rock shaft 16. shaft 18 is fixedly attached through the medium of the coupling sleeve 19 a lever arm 20 which has its free end bifurcated as at 21 and such end 21 is pivotally connected as at 22 to the lower end of the link 5. Near the outer end of the rock shaft 18 is fixed a sleeve 23 having depending therefrom an inclined lower arm 24 which constitutes a trip arm and carries on its lower end a roller 25, adapted during the travel of the car to ride over an inclined track 26 positioned at one side of a track rail 27 and during the travel of the roller 25 over the track 26, the rock shaft 18 will be shifted in one direction, causing thereby the lowering of the lever arm 20, link 5, and rocking of the lever 11 upon its pivot causing the pouch support 14 to be shifted towards the car door opening and the throwing of thepouch, sack or package from the support. As the car is traveling very rapidly it is evident that when the .roller rides up the track 26, the mechanism is actuated in a manner as stated and that the actuation will be very quick and the mail pouch support will be rapidly shifted forwardly as the lever 7 rocks on its pivot, and as there is nothing to retain the pouch in said support the pouch will be thrown therefrom the desired distance which is usually about five feet from the track bed. In the construction shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the apparatus is the same, with this exception, that in lieu of employing the inclined trip arm 24, a lever arm 28 is substituted and has one end as at 29 fixed to the shaft 18 and its other end bifurcated and pivotally connected as at 30 toa vertically-extending trip bar 31, the latter carrying a roller 32 adapted to ride over the inclined track 26. To maintain the rod 31 perpendicular during the vertical movement thereof, a guide sleeve 33 is provided through which the rod 31 extends, the guide sleeve 33 is suspended from the bottom of the car through the medium of a pair of combined hanger and brace mem bers 34, having the lower end formed integral with the collar andthe upper end connected with the bottom of the car as at 35. Otherwise than that as stated, the construction shown in Figs. 4 and 5 is similar to that shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, like reference characters being applied thereto. The apparatus as shown in Figs. 4 and 5 is actuated when the roller 32 travels over the inclined track 26 as will be evident.

In practice, it will be assumed that the car is approaching the station in the direction of the arrow. Either of the rollers 25 or 32 will ride up the track 26, such action will Near the inner end of the one throwing lever, and an actuating link for actuate the mechanism in the manner as hereinbefore referred to, thereby throwing the pouch from the support. -The throwing lever 7 as well as the bracket 8 and link 5 can be shifted to the other side of the car when the latter is to travel in a direction opposite to that indicated by the arrow. These parts being removably mounted, an additional slot 3 being provided on the bottom of the car through which the link 5 ex tends. The actuating mechanism for the link 5 being duplicated on the opposite side of the car. Under such conditions, it is only necessary to provide a single pouch support,

the latter.

What I claim is 1. A mail pouch delivering apparatus comprising a throwing lever suspended above the bottom of the car and having an elongated and a short arm, a pouch support secured to the elongated arm of said lever and means connected to the shorter arm of the lever and operated exteriorly of the car for actuating said lever causing thereby the shifting of the support and the throwing therefrom of the mail matter carried thereby.

2. A mail pouch delivering apparatus comprising a curvilinear throwing lever suspended abovethe bottom of the car and comprising an elongated and a short arm, a pouch support secured to the elongated arm of said lever and means connected to the shorter arm of said lever for actuating said lever, thereby shifting the support and the throwing therefrom of the mail matter supported thereby.

3. A mail pouch delivering apparatus comprising a pivoted throwing lever suspended above the bottom of the car and embodying an elongated and a short arm, a pouch support secured to the elongated arm of said lever at an inclination, and means connected to the shorter arm of the lever for actuating the latter thereby causing the shifting of the support and the throwing therefrom of the mail matter carried thereby.

4. A mail pouch delivering apparatus comprising a pivoted throwing lever suspended above the bottom of the car and embodying an elongated and a short arm, a pouch support secured to the elongated arm of said ever at an inclination, a rock shaft supported below the bottom of the car, a lever arm extending therefrom, a vertically extending link pivoted to the shorter arm of said lever and to said lever arm, and an automatically actuated operating means for said rock shaft, said means actuated exteriorly of and during the travel of the car.

5. A mail pouch delivering apparatus, a pivoted curvilinear throwing lever suspended entirely above the floor of a car, a pouch support secured to the elongated arm elevate either the lever 24 or the rod 31 and l of said lever, and means extending through the :floor of the car and connected to the shorter arm of the lever for actuating the latter thereby causing the shifting of the sup port and throwing therefrom of the pouch supported thereby. Y

6. A mail pouch deliverin g apparatus com prising a pivoted throwing lever suspended entirely above the floor of a car, a pouch support secured to the elongated arm of the lever, and means extending through the floor of the car and connected to the shorter arm of the lever for actuating the latter, causing thereby the shifting of the support and the throwing therefrom of the pouch supported thereby. 4

7. A mail pouch delivering apparatus comprising .a pivoted curvilinear throwing lever having an elongated arm thereof terminating in a forked end, a pouch support secured to the forked end of said arm, and means connected to the shorter arm of the lever for actuating the latter causing thereby the shifting of the support and throwing therefrom of the pouch supported thereby.

8. A mail pouch delivering apparatus comprising a pivoted throwing lever, one arm of said lever being longer than the other, a pouch support secured at an inclination to the end of the elongated arm of the lever, the inclination 'of the support being downward towards the pivot of the lever, and means connected to the shorter arm of the lever for actuating the latter causing thereby the shifting of the support and the throwing therefrom of the pouch thereby.

9. A mail pouch delivering apparatus comprising a curvilinear pivoted throwing lever, a pouch support connected to one end thereof, means connected with the other end of the lever, adapted to extend through the bottom of a car and when operated adapted to act-uate said lever causing thereby the shifting of the support and the throwing therefrom of the pouch supported thereby, and a trip mechanism arranged exteriorly of the car for operating said means.

10. A mail pouch delivering apparatus comprising an inclined pouch support adapted to extend transversely of a car body, the inclination of the support being downward towards the opening of the car through which the pouch is delivered, a curvilinear throw ing lever pivoted intermediate its ends, said support secured intermediate its lower face of one arm of said lever and suspended over the lever, and means operated from the exterior of the car for actuating the lever causing thereby the shifting of the support and the throwing therefrom of the pouch supported thereby.

11. A mail pouch delivering apparatus comprising a pivoted throwing lever, a pouch support secured to the elongated arm of the lever, a vertically extending and oscillatory means connected with said lever and actuated from the exterior of a car during the travel of the latter, said means when actuated operating said lever causing thereby the shifting of the support and the throning therefrom of the pouch supported thereby.

12. A mail pouch delivering apparatus comprising a pivotally mounted pouch support suspended above the bottom of a car, a vcrti(ally-extending means for shifting the support to throw the mail matter carried therefrom, a rock shaft, connections between the said means and the rock shaft for actuating the former when the latter is operated, an inclined track positioned in close proximity to the railway track cod, and means depending from the shaft and adapted to travel up said track causing thereby the rocking of the shaft and the actuation of said means.

13. A mail pouch delivering apparatus comprising a pivotally-mounted pouch support suspended above the bottom of a car, a vertically-cxtcmling means for shifting the support to throw the mail matter carried therefrom, a rock shaft, connections between said means and the rock shaft for actuating the former when the latter is operated, an inclined track positioned in close proximity to the railway track bed, and a depending trip arm connected to said shaft and carrying a roller adapted to travel up said track causing thereby the rocking of the shaft and the actuating of said shifting means.

14. A mail pouch delivcrii'ig apparatus comprising a pouch support suspended above the bottom of a car, a vertical extending means for shifting the support to throw the mail matter carried therefrom, a rock shaft, connections between said 111021115 and the rock shaft for actuating the former when the latter is operated, an inclined track positioncd in close proximity to the railway track bed, and an inclined trip arm depending from said shaft and carrying a roller adapted to travel up said track "causing thereby the rocking of the shaft and the actuating of said shifting means.

15. A mail pouch delivering apparatus comprising a swinging pouch support suspended above the bottom of a car, a vertical extending means for shifting the support to throw the mail matter carried therefrom, a rock shaft, connections between said means and the rock shaft for actuating the former when the latter is operated, an inclined track positioned in close proximity to the railway track bed, and an inclined trip arm depending from said shaft and carrying a roller adapted to travel up said track causing thereby the rocking of the shaft and the actuating of said shifting means.

16. A mail pouch delivering apparatus comprising a pouch support suspended above the bottom of a car, means for shifting the support to throw the mail matter carried therefrom, a rock shaft, connections between said means and the rock shaft for actuating the former when the latter is operated, an inclined track positioned in close proximity to the railway track bed, and an inclined trip arm depending from said shaft and carrying a roller adapted to travel up said track, causing thereby the rocking of the shaft and the actuating of said shifting means.

17. A mail pouch delivering apparatus, comprising a pouch supporting means sus pended above the bottom of a car, means for actuating the supporting means to throw the mail matter carried therefrom, a rock shaft, connections between said means and the rock shaft for actuating the former when the latter is operated, an inclined track positioned in close proximity to the railway track bed, and a trip arm connected with said shaft and carrying a roller adapted to travel up said track causing thereby the rocking of the shaft and the actuating of said shifting means.

18. A mail pouch delivering apparatus comprising a pouch supporting means suspended above the bottom of a car, means for actuating the supporting means to throw the mail matter carried therefrom, a rock shaft supported beneath the bottom of the car, connections between said means and the rock shaft for actuating the former when the latter is operated, a trip arm connected with said rock shaft, and means positioned adja cent the track bed to be engaged by said trip arm causing thereby the rocking of the shaft and the actuating of said shifting means.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES A. WILLIS.

W'itnesses J. THOMAS SoTHoRoN, T. K. BRYANT. 

